Ceiling fixture



July 14, 1964 WOLOSKI 3,140,833

CEILING FIXTURE Filed Aug. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 III/I INVENTOR.L0NAA0 WOLOSKI' ATTOKA/EYS L. WOLOSKI CEILING- FIXTURE July 14, 1964Filed Aug. 11, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. i LEONAKD wowsx/ FIG. 4

A rrunvtrs United States Patent 3,140,833 CEILING FIXTURE LeonardWoloski, Brooidyn, N.Y., assignor to Lightolier Incorporated, acorporation of New York Filed Aug. 11, 1961, Ser. No. 130,996 3 Claims.(Cl. 240-78) This invention relates to the art of ceiling fixtures andmore particularly to a lighting fixture and the translucent diffuserpanel thereof and mount therefor.

Where conventional diffuser panels of translucent material which arepositioned beneath sources of light, require a hinged frame formounting, the resultant structure may be costly, cumbersome and heavyand in addition the frame of such panel may cause light discontinuitywith resultant detraction from the decorative effect provided by acontinuous illuminated area.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide aceiling lighting fixture that includes a diffuser panel that may readilybe fabricated from relatively inexpensive material at low cost, whichmay readily be installed without the need of frames, requiring but apair of spaced rails for mounting and which, when mounted, willdependably remain in position without likelihood of accidentaldislodgment due to a vertical movement with respect to the supportrails, yet may readily be removed therefrom when necessary, with asimple manipulation and without the use of tools of any sort and whichwill provide a luminous region that completely conceals such mountingrails to avoid any light discontinuity.

According to the invention, these objects are accomplished by thearrangement and combination of elements hereinafter described and moreparticularly recited in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of various possibleembodiments of the several features of the invention,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ceiling fixture,

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the diffuser panel and supportbrackets of the lighting fixture with parts broken away and partly incross section,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view showing another embodiment of theinvention.

Referring now to the drawings, the lighting fixture comprises anelongated housing 11 having a top wall 12 with depending end and sidewalls 13 and 14.

Secured to the lower edges of each of the side walls 14 and extendingthe length thereof are support brackets 15, 15'. As shown in FIGS. 2 and3, each support bracket has an elongated substantially U-shaped channelportion 16 which has an elongated flange 17 upstanding from the inneredge of its upper surface 18 and an elongated outwardly inclined flange19 depending from the inner edge 20 of its lower supporting surface 21.A lip 22 illustratively extends the length of each of said flanges 21 ina plane substantially parallel to the plane of the lower supportingsurface 21.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 3, each of the flanges 17 is positioned onthe inside of the associated wall 14 and is secured thereto as byriveting at 23, said walls each having a lateral flange 24 resting onthe top surface 18.

The housing has mounted therein a plurality of fluorescent lamps 25which extend between end walls 13. As the mount for such lamps and themechanism to control the latter is well known and per se forms no partof the invention, it will not be further described.

Adapted to be supported by the brackets 15, 15' is a diffuser memberwhich comprises a rigid rectangular panel 27 of translucent plastic suchas acrylic or styrene. Each of the ends of the panel has an upstandingwall 28 preferably formed integral therewith and substantiallyperpendicular thereto. Each of the two opposed side edges of the panel27 has a strip 29 rising therefrom and formed integral therewith, saidstrips being inclined inwardly as shown in FIG. 3.

The upper edge of each of the strips 29 has a thickened portion 31 withan elongated recess 32, illustratively substantially circular in crosssection, extending the length thereof and with an elongated opening 33leading into said recess. Extending laterally outward from each of saidthickened portions 31 and extending substantially the length thereof isa substantially rectangular lip 34 which lies in a plane parallel to theplane of the panel 27, the outer edge 35 of each lip extending outwardlybeyond the associated edge 30 of the panel 27.

As shown in FIG. 3, the width of the diffuser member taken transverselyacross the lips 34 thereof is such that said lips may be supported onthe lower supporting surface 21 of said channel portions 16. Means areprovided releasably to retain the panel in position substantiallycentered between the brackets 15, 15.

To this end resilient means 41 are positioned in the channel 16 ofbracket 15 and designed to react against the outer edge 35 of theassociated lip 34 to urge the panel laterally toward the other bracket15.

More specifically the resilient means comprises a plurality of bowedleaf springs 42, the ends 43 of which react against the rear wall 44 ofthe channel 16. The central portion of each leaf spring has a finger 45rising from its upper edge which extends through aligned slots 46 in theflange 24 and surface 18 to guide the leaf spring.

The central bowed portion of each leaf spring thus reacts against theedge 35 of the associated lip 34 and the lateral movement of the panelis limited by stop members 47 illustratively secured to the outersurface of the inclined strip 29 adjacent the bracket 15', the stopabutting against the inner edge 20 of the lower supporting surface 21 ofsaid bracket 15.

In this position, the side strips 29 will be substantially equallyspaced from flanges 19 as at 51 and the portions of lips 34 extendingover the upper ends of the spaces 51 will be exposed to the rays oflight from the lamps 25.

The depth of the channel portions 16 and the compressibility of the leafsprings 42 is such that the panel 27 may be moved laterally to compressthe leaf springs sufficiently so that the edge 35 of lip 34 adjacentbracket 15 may be moved inwardly clear of the supporting surface 21thereof for removal of said panel in the manner hereinafter described.

The fixture above described is designed to be mounted in a rectangularopening in a ceiling for example, which, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 hassubstantially T-shaped mounting rails 53 along the side edges thereof,each of said rails having an inwardly extending flange 54 on which reststhe support lips 22 of the brackets 15, 15.

The lips 22 are secured to the flanges 54 in any suitable manner so thatthe lighting fixture will be dependably retained in position.

To remove the panel 27 to permit cleaning of the inside surface thereofand to provide access to the interior of the housing for replacement ofthe lamps 25, it is merely necessary to exert pressure against the panelto urge it laterally toward bracket 15. As a result of the compressionof the bowed leaf springs 42, the panel will move toward bracket 15 andthe edge of lip 34 adjacent bracket 15 will be moved clear of the edge20 supporting surface 21 so that the panel may then be dropped forremoval.

As the person removing the panel would have to stand on a ladder, forexample, to reach the same and would have to use both hands to clean theinside surface of the panel or to relamp the lighting fixture, in orderto avoid the need for a cumbersome holder for the panel at the top ofthe ladder, or for the person removing the panel to climb down theladder to deposit the panel on the floor or for an additional person tohold the panel after it is removed, means are provided to suspend thepanel from the fixture when the panel is dropped for removal.

To this end a plurality of flexible tapes 56 are desirably provided,each having a bead 55 at one end substantially circular in cross sectionwhich is inserted into the circular recess 32 adjacent bracket 15. Theother end of the tapes are secured as at 57.

Thus, when the panel is removed and dropped, as above described, it willbe supported at one edge by the tapes 56.

To mount the panel, the lip 34 thereof is positioned on supportingsurface 21 of bracket 15 and with the panel in substantially horizontalposition it is moved laterally toward bracket 15 to compress the bowedleaf springs 42 until the other lip 34 may be moved onto the supportingsuface 21 of bracket 15'. The panel is then released and the leaf.springs will then move the panel laterally until the stops 47 abutagainst the edge 21) of bracket 15 at which time the panel will beproperly positioned.

With the panel so positioned, by reason of the rays of light passingthrough the lips 34 into the spaces 51 there will be a glow of light atthe lower end of said space that will substantially conceal the flange54 of the support rail 53 so that there will be no discontinuity betweenthe luminous area and the cealing.

The construction above described may be used in a combined air diffuserand lighting fixture. To this end, it is merely necessary to provide aplurality of openings in the lips 34 as shown in FIG. and provide asource of air which, when forced into the housing 11 will flow throughsuch openings.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions and manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could .be madewithout departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all:matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanyingdrawings, shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a housing having a pair of side walls,a support bracket at the lower edge of each of said side walls, each ofsaid brackets having a channel portion open at one side thereof andopposed to each other, each of said channel portions having a lowersupporting surface, the inner edge of each of said supporting surfaceshaving a downwardly and outwardly extending flange, resilient means inat least one of said channel portions and normally stressed to exert aninwardly directed force toward the other channel portion, asubstantially rectangular translucent light diffusing panel, said panelhaving a side member rising from each of two opposed edges thereof, saidside members being inclined toward each other, the upper edge of each ofsaid side members having a support lip which extends outwardly beyondthe associated edge of said panel, the outer extremities of said lipsresting on an associated lower supporting surface, said resilient meansreacting against one of said outer extremities on one of said bracketsto urge the panel'laterally toward the other bracket, and means to limitthe lateral movement of said panel, whereby the panel will besubstantially centered on said supporting surfaces between saidbrackets, with the inclined side members and their associated inclinedflanges extending substantially parallel to each other to define a spacetherebetween whereby the light passing through said lips will illuminatesaid space, said resilient means being compressible to permit lateralmovement of said panel away from said other bracket so that theextremity of the associated lip may be moved clear of the lowersupporting surface thereof.

2. An installation of the character described, comprising a pair ofparallel supports, a lighting fixture compris ing a housing having apair of side walls, a support bracket at the lower edge of each of saidside walls, each of said brackets having an elongated channel portionopen at one side thereof and opposed to each other, each of said chan'nel portions having a lower supporting surface, the inner edge of eachof said supporting surfaces having a down wardly and outwardly inclinedflange, the parallel supports being spaced by a distance slightly lessthan the transverse spacing between the lower edges of said flanges,

said lower edges being removably seated respectively on an associatedone ofsaid pair of parallel supports, resilient means in one of saidchannel portions and normally stressed to exert a force toward the otherchannel portion, a substantially rectangular translucent light diffuserpanel, said panel having an elongated strip along each of two opposededges thereof, and integral therewith, said strips rising from each ofsaid edges and being inclined toward each other, the .upper edge ofeachof said strips having a lip integral therewith and extending the lengththereof, said lips extending laterally outward and lying in a planesubstantially parallel to the plane of said panel, the outer edge ofsaid lips extending beyond the associated edge of said panel and restingon an associated lower supporting surface of said ,channel portion, saidresilient means reacting against the outer edge of one of said lips tourge the panel laterally toward the other channel portion, means tolimit the lateral movement of said panel, whereby the panel will besubstantially centered on said supporting surfaces, said resilient meansbeing compressible to permit lateral movement of said panel away fromsaid other channel portion, so that the outer edge of the lip associatedwith the other channel portion may be moved clear of the lowersupporting surface thereof, said inclined strips when said panel ismounted being spaced from the inclined flanges of said bracket, wherebythe light passing through said lips will effectively conceal the bracketand the pair of parallel supports.

3. The combination set forth in claim 2 in which said resilient meanscomprises a bowed leaf spring in said channel portion, the ends ofsaid-spring reacting against the rear wall of said channel portion, thecentral portion of said spring reacting against the outer edge of theassociated lip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS832,924 Ross Oct. 9, 1906 2,721,635 Fullerton Oct. 25, 1955 2,951,611Tillson et al. Sept. 6, 1960 2,996,609 Wilson Aug. 15, 1961 FOREIGNPATENTS 72,518 Denmark Apr. 30, 1951 1,211,216 France Oct. 5, 1959859,429 Great Britain J an. 25, 1961

1. A LIGHTING FIXTURE COMPRISING A HOUSING HAVING A PAIR OF SIDE WALLS,A SUPPORT BRACKET AT THE LOWER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID SIDE WALLS, EACH OFSAID BRAKETS HAVING A CHANNEL PORTION OPEN AT ONE SIDE THEREOF ANDOPPOSED TO EACH OTHER, EACH OF SAID CHANNEL PORTIONS HAVING A LOWERSUPPORTING SURFACE, THE INNER EDGE OF EACH OF SAID SUPPORTING SURFACESHAVING A DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE, RESILIENT MEANS INAT LEAST ONE OF SAID CHANNEL PORTIONS AND NORMALLY STRESSED TO EXERT ANINWARDLY DIRECTED FORCE TOWARD THE OTHER CHANNEL PORTION, ASUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR TRANSLUCENT LIGHT DIFFUSING PANEL, SAID PANELHAVING A SIDE MEMBER RISING FROM EACH OF TWO OPPOSED EDGES THEREOF, SAIDSIDE MEMBERS BEING INCLINED TOWARD EACH OTHER, THE UPPER EDGE OF EACH OFSAID SIDE MEMBERS HAVING A SUPPORT LIP WHICH EXTENDS OUTWARDLY BEYONDTHE ASSOCIATED EDGE OF SAID PANEL, THE OUTER EXTREMITIES OF SAID LIPSRESTING ON AN ASSOCIATED LOWER SUP-